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April 24 to be an evening devoted to the Orthodox Churches

This year, the Churches of the East and the West celebrate a common date for Easter.

Fairfield University Campus Ministry sees this as a unique opportunity to bring together several communities for a celebration of the manifold spiritual and cultural contributions of Orthodoxy and the eastern Christian traditions to the world. On Thursday, April 24, "An Evening of Prayer, Table Fellowship and Panel Discussion on the Contributions of the Orthodox Churches," will take place in the Egan Chapel of St. Ignatius Loyola, on the Fairfield campus, from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

The events are free and open to the public.

The evening will begin with sung Orthodox Vespers at 5 p.m., followed by a buffet featuring traditional Greek foods. At 7 p.m., there will be a panel discussion of ecumenical dialogue, focusing on the particular historic, spiritual and cultural contributions of eastern Christians in addressing the conflicts in the Middle East.

Too often, in American political discussions, the conflicts are styled simply as involving Muslims and Jews, said Fr. Paul D. Holland, S.J., director of Campus Ministry and rector of the Fairfield Jesuit Community. "We hope to give voice to the insights and experiences of Christian communities with deep ties to the regions," Fr. Holland said.

The events are co-sponsored by Fairfield University Campus Ministry, the Fairfield Jesuit Community, Orthodox Christian Fellowship, Muslim Student Association, Russian & East European Studies Program, the Center for Faith and Public Life, the Center for Catholic Studies, and the Carl and Dorothy Bennett Center for Jewish Studies.